Galactic Gala
As the sun set on Sunday night, guests began arriving at the Galactic Gala celebrating the Nov. 3 re-opening of the Griffith Observatory. (Anne Cusack / LAT)
Buzz and Lois Aldrin arrive for the Galatic Gala. Aldrin was the second man to set foot on the moon. (Anne Cusack / LAT)
Actor Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame and his wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, join the other partygoers at the Observatory. Nimoy was among the contributors who helped complete the work on the facility (Anne Cusack / LAT)
The facade of the Griffith Obervatory is bathed in images of stars as guest enter the gala. The structure, which was opened in 1935, underwent a $93 million renovation and enlargement. (Mark J. Terrill / AP)
The refurbished Griffith Observatory includes new and familiar exhibits. The Tesla coil remains, but the Laserium has moved on, as have the wooden chairs. The planetarium now sports plush seats, but there are fewer of them. (Mark J. Terrill / AP)
